The Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) officials are urging residents in the Tampa Bay area to prepare for heavy rainfall and potential flooding as the National Weather Service monitors a developing weather system along the Gulf Coast. Residents, visitors and businesses from Tampa to Pensacola could be affected.
Officials want everyone to be aware that the forecast calls for 10-15 inches of rain through Thursday.
FLORIDA GULF COAST RESIDENTS AND VISITORS URGED TO PREPARE FOR HEAVY RAIN; POTENTIAL FLOODING pic.twitter.com/3AgAAXPJOg
— FLSERT Information (@FLSERT) August 7, 2016
Concerns about possible heavy rain have sparked some local governments in the Tampa Bay area to open sandbag sites.
Residents in Hillsborough and Pasco counties and the cities of Tampa and New Port Richey can collect sand to fill sandbags at several locations.
On Monday, the City of Tampa extended their sand bag availability. Sand bags will be available to city residents at the following locations from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Monday:
- Bobby Hicks Pool, 4201 W. Mango Avenue
- Barksdale Active Adult Center at MacFarlane Park, 1801 North Lincoln Avenue
- Jackson Heights Community Center, 3310 East Lake Avenue
Tampa residents must show ID to verify that they live within the city limits. A valid driver's license, utility bill, or electric bill will serve as proper identification. There is a limit of 10 bags per person.
The City of Tarpon Springs will provide sand and sand bags at three locations throughout the City. Materials will be available at the following locations:
- Dorsett Park, 500 E. Harrison Street
- Splash Park, 508 E. Live Oak Street
- Roosevelt Boulevard Roundabout at Dodecanese Avenue
In Hillsborough County, there is a limit of 25 sandbags per resident. Sandbag materials will be available to the public at all three County Public Works Service Units:
- West Service Unit at 9805 Sheldon Road
- South Service Unit at 8718 Old Big Bend Road
- East Service Unit at 4702 Sydney Road
Sand bag materials will be available on Monday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Residents should bring shovels. Each resident must sign their name and provide their home address acknowledging the receipt of 25 sandbags or less.
Hillsborough residents can call (813) 635-5400 to report flooding and road problems or to request additional information.
In Pasco County, to help citizens in flood prone and low lying areas prepare for potential impacts of heavy rain, the following locations will be open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. starting Saturday until further notice:
- West Pasco Government Center, 7356 State Street, New Port Richey (self-serve)
- J.W. Mitchell Park, 4025 Little Road, New Port Richey (self-serve)
- Veterans Memorial Park, 14333 Hicks Road, Hudson (self-serve)
The sandbag locations are open to Pasco County residents. Sandbags will be provided, but residents are encouraged to bring their own shovels.
The city of New Port Richey also have opened a sandbag location for city residents from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the following location:
- 6240 Pine Hill Road, New Port Richey (self-serve)
Pasco County Public Works crews will be working over the weekend as needed. Pumps at the following locations are operating: Trinity, Thousand Oaks, Seven Springs and Magnolia Valley. Additional pumps will be activated if needed.
Citrus County
In Citrus County, the Department of Public Works will open two sandbag sites at noon today. They will remain open until 5:30 p.m. and reopen at 8 a.m. Monday at the following locations:
- 4508 S. Grandmarch Ave., Homosassa
- 7490 W. Gulf to Lake Highway, Crystal River
